Hohentübingen Castle

The origins of Hohentübingen Castle likely date back to 1037, with the first stone fortifications appearing only in the 12th and 13th centuries. Its first written mention is found in the Zwiefalten Annals in 1078, which describe a siege of the castle “Duwingen” by King Henry IV during the Investiture Controversy. At that time, Count Hugo III of Tübingen was also mentioned. The Counts of Tübingen, first named in 1081 and elevated to Palatine Counts in 1149, sold the complex to the Counts of Württemberg in 1342. Under Duke Ulrich (1495–1550), Hohentübingen was expanded into a state fortress and equipped with bastions. Duke Friedrich I (1593–1608) had further fortifications added in the early 17th century, crowning the work in 1607 with a Renaissance portal. After the Battle of Nördlingen in 1634, the castle surrendered without a fight to the Duke of Lorraine.